Some years ago, when the ozone hole crisis became obvious, asthma inhaler manufacturers took action to replace the HCFC propellants in their products. CFCs and to a lesser extent HCFCs had been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer which reduces the amount of harmful ultra-violet radiation reaching the earth's surface. The Montreal Agreement was a rare success story, achieving almost global compliance - though the Chinese government was rather slower than most to crack down on CFC use. The ozone hole is no longer an issue, though climate experts mostly agree that we should remain vigilant.
Unfortunately, the replacement propellant of choice, HFA134a, turns out to be a potent greenhouse gas. Experts say we should be switching to a different type of inhaler, which requires a different technique for use. This dry powder device is apparently widely used in continental Europe. We await developments.
There is more on BBC Radio's Inside Health.
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